Catherine Sedley, Countess Of Dorchester

Catherine Colyear, suo jure Countess of Dorchester and Countess of Portmore (née Sedley), was born on December 21, 1657, and died on October 26, 1717. She was an English noblewoman and courtier, known for her relationship with King James II of England before and after his accession to the throne.

Early Life:

Catherine Sedley was the only legitimate child of Sir Charles Sedley, 5th Baronet, a poet associated with the Restoration period. Her mother was Lady Catherine Savage, daughter of John Savage, 2nd Earl Rivers. She was described as "notoriously plain," being brunette and slender rather than conventionally attractive. During her early teens, her family experienced significant difficulties; her mother suffered from mental illness and was committed to a psychiatric hospital in Ghent. Meanwhile, her father was known to roister around the country, and during this turbulent period, Sir Charles introduced Anne Ayscough, a common-law wife, into the family, and subsequently ejected Catherine from the family home.

Royal Mistress:

Catherine Sedley initially worked for Mary of Modena, who had recently married James, Duke of York. This employment led to an affair with James, who later became King James II. She was reportedly surprised at being chosen by James, doubting her own attractiveness or wit, noting her plain appearance and lack of beauty. King James II was known to prefer women considered plain or unattractive, including Arabella Churchill, which was remarked upon by contemporaries; King Charles II once joked that his confessor had to impose these mistresses on James as a form of penance.

After James's accession to the throne in 1685, he faced pressure from his confessor, Fr. Bonaventure Giffard, and certain Catholic courtiers to end his relationship with Sedley. James reportedly took Giffard's intervention with understanding, mentioning that the councillors should not meddle in personal affairs, humorously noting that they seemed to have entered the priesthood themselves. In 1686, Catherine Sedley was created Countess of Dorchester for life, a peerage that caused considerable controversy. As a result, she resided temporarily in Ireland.

Marriage and Later Life:

In 1696, she married Sir David Colyear, 2nd Baronet, who was created Earl of Portmore in 1703. She was the mother of Charles Colyear, 2nd Earl of Portmore. Following the Glorious Revolution of 1688, Queen Mary II refused to acknowledge her at court. In response, Catherine questioned Queen Mary's moral standing by referencing her alleged disobedience to the commandments, specifically regarding honoring her father and the sin of adultery.

At the court of George I, Catherine met other prominent courtiers' mistresses, including Louise de Kérouaille, Duchess of Portsmouth, and Elizabeth Hamilton, Countess of Orkney. She remarked upon this gathering with a resigned comment about their shared profession.

During George I's coronation in 1714, she made a pointed remark on observing the military presence, asking whether the new king's authority would be accepted, implying skepticism about the loyalty of the assembled crowd.

Death and Descendants:

Catherine Colyear died in Bath on October 26, 1717. She had a daughter by James II named Lady Catherine Darnley, who married James Annesley, 3rd Earl of Anglesey, and after his death, married John Sheffield, 1st Duke of Buckingham and Normanby. Her descendants include the Barons Mulgrave and the Mitford sisters. Through her son Charles, Lord Portmore, she was the grandmother of Elizabeth Collier, who married Dr. Erasmus Darwin, a physician, scientist, and poet, and the grandfather of Charles Darwin.

Family Relationships:

- Father: Sir Charles Sedley, 5th Baronet

- Mother: Lady Catherine Savage

- Husband: Sir David Colyear, 2nd Baronet (later Earl of Portmore)

- Daughter: Lady Catherine Darnley (d. 1743)

Her life intersected with notable figures and events in English history, notably through her relationships and descendants.